An 18-year-old Clifton College matric pupil joined paddler Tony Botes and other Good Samaritans in rescuing a man swept upstream by an incoming spring tide in Durban North’s Umgeni River.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon, 31 August, after the man was caught in the tide while taking part in a baptism near the river mouth, according to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
Eyewitnesses raised the alarm as the man was swept upstream between the two roadway bridges.
Local security officers followed the man along the riverbank, while fisherman Roland Theron made the first emergency call to the NSRI. Kingfisher Canoe Club car guard Njabulu Zondi also helped alert rescuers and assisted Tony Botes in launching his surf-ski.
Botes reached the man, who was in distress, about 400 metres upstream and encouraged him to float on his back as they moved towards shallower water.
Matric pupil joins rescue
Cole Nienhuser was training at the Kingfisher Canoe Club gym when he noticed the rescue unfolding. The 18-year-old paddler and former lifeguard then swam out to assist.
Nienhuser spoke calmly to the man and worked with Botes to guide him across the shallower sandbanks and through the deeper sections of the river.
Drawing on his previous lifeguarding experience, Nienhuser helped take the man through a deep section before bringing him towards the shoreline, where Zondi and Theron were waiting to assist.
NSRI Durban, eThekwini municipal lifeguards, eThekwini Coastal Rescue and Netcare 911 were also dispatched to the scene. By the time emergency services arrived, the man had been brought safely ashore.
He was medically assessed and required no further treatment. The NSRI arranged transport for him, and he later expressed his appreciation to those involved in the rescue.
The NSRI commended the local security officers, Theron, Zondi, Botes and Nienhuser for their actions.
Clifton College also praised Nienhuser in a social-media post, describing his actions as “courage in action” and “humility in character”.
The school said his composure, selflessness and willingness to act in a crisis reflected values it was proud to see in one of its pupils.
IOL
